Street sweeper



G. E. OSBQRN 3,241,170

STREET SWEEPER Filed Dec. 17, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. GEORGE E.OSBORN ATTORNEYS March 22, 1966 G. E. OSBQRN I 3,241,170

STREET SWEEPER Filed Dec. 17, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR. GEORGE E.0650R/V flw, 74%

March 22, 1966 G. E. OSBORN 3,241,170

STREET SWEEPER Filed Dec. 17, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. GEORGE E.OSBORN HTTORNE Y6 United States Patent 3,241,170 STREET SWEEPER GeorgeE. Osborn, Saginaw, Micln, assignor to Universal Metal Fabricators,Inc., Saginaw, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 17, 1962, Ser.No. 245,020 8 Claims. (Cl. --87) This invention relates to mobile streetsweepers of the kind adapted to be driven along a street to sweepleaves, refuse and other debris from the gutter and adjacent streetsurface into a hopper for subsequent discharge at a dump.

Street sweepers of the general class to which the invention relatescustomarily include a circular, rotatable broom mounted adjacent eachside of the vehicle for the purpose of sweeping refuse from the gutterstoward the center line of the vehicle frame and into the path of arevolving, cylindrical broom mounted at the rear of the vehicle. Therear broom sweeps refuse lying in its path on the elevator which carriesthe refuse to a hopper mounted on the vehicle. When the hopper becomesfull, the vehicle is driven to a dumping site where the contents of thehopper is discharged.

The gutter broom constructions of conventional street sweeper appears tobe of two types. The gutter brooms of one construction project laterallyof the vehicle frame a substantial distance so as to enable the broomadjacent the curb to sweep the gutter clean. The lateral projection ofthe brooms from both sides of the vehicle avoids contact between thecurb and the vehicles tires, but it necessitates positioning of thevehicle a substantial distance from the curb, thereby minimizing passingroom to one side of the vehicle. This characteristic of certain kinds ofmobile street sweepers often results in the creation of hazardousdriving conditions during operation of the sweeping apparatus. Thehazard is magnified in those instances where the street sweeping vehiclehas gutter brooms projecting from both sides of the vehicle. The traffichazard created by laterally projecting gutter brooms can become acutewhen the mobile street sweeper is operated on narrow streets and innarrow tunnels because the sweeper crowds or crosses the center line. Asa result such sweepers are not used on narrow streets and in narrowtunnels.

A second type of known mobile street sweeper overcomes to some extentthe disadvantages referred to above by so mounting the gutter brooms asto prevent their extending much, if any, beyond the sides of thevehicle. In this construction, however, the vehicle is unable to sweepthe gutter without risking engagement between the vehicle tires and thecurb. Consequently, the sweeping operation is either inefficient orexcessive wear of the tires is encountered.

An object of this invention is to provide a mobile street sweeper havinggutter brooms each of which may be extended laterally of the vehicle toany one of a number of positions and which may be retracted when desiredto sweep while moving around obstacles, for instance, or when movingthrough narrow tunnels, or when tratfic is heavy.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mobile street sweeper ofthe kind referred to and in which the positions of the gutter brooms atopposite sides of the vehicle may be controlled independently of oneanother.

A further object of the invention is to provide gutter brooms for mobilestreet sweepers and which are capable of vertical adjustment in allpositions of lateral adjustment so that the brooms can be employed tosweep the tops of curbs when extended and drawn up to an inoperative,non-pavement engaging position when laterally retracted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mobile ice streetsweeper of the character described in which the positions of the gutterbrooms can be regulated from the drivers compartment, thereby avoidingthe necessity of the drivers having to leave the cab.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed outspecifically or will become apparent from the following description whenit is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a mobile street sweeper equippedwith apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the sweeper with cetrain partsbeing omitted in the interests of clarity, the broken lines indicatingvarious adjusted positions of the side brooms;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view, partly in section and partly in top plan,of a gutter broom and its supporting structure and illustrating thebroom in its retracted position;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but illustrating the gutterbroom in its projected position; and

FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram of a hydraulic control system for one ofthe gutter brooms; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, sectional, side elevational view illustratingthe details of the hinge mount for the side brooms.

Apparatus construction in accordance with the invention is adapted foruse in conjunction with a conventional sweeper vehicle 1 having achassis or frame 2 on which is supported a drivers cab 3. Rearwardly ofthe cab 3 is a body or housing 4 at the rear end of which is an elevatorassembly and housing 5. Rotatably journaled by the housing 5 is a rearbroom 6 that is substantially cylindrical in configuration and ispositioned transversely to the direction of movement of the vehicle. Asis conventional, the broom 6 is adapted to be rotated clockwise, asviewed in FIGURE 1, and sweep debris onto an elevator contained withinthe housing 5 which lifts the debris into a hopper that is supportedwithin the body 4. Patent No. 2,950,827 shows and describes a sweepervehicle of this character in detail.

All of the apparatus referred to thus far is conventional and forms nopart of the invention per se. The invention resides in the constructionand arrangement of gutter broom assemblies 7 mounted one at either sideof the vehicle frame.

Each of the brush assemblies 7 is identical, so only one need bedescribed in detail. Each brush assembly includes a two-part supportingarm, one part of which is designated by the reference character 8. Atone end of the arm 8 is journaled a spindle 9 which extends through andis driven by a conventional hydraulic motor 10. Fixed on the spindle 9is a rotatable gutter brush 11 of conventional construction and which isadapted to be rotated while it is in engagement with the street surfaceto sweep leaves and other debris into the path of the rear broom 6. Atits other end the arm 8 is hinged as at 12 to one end of the second arm13, the arrangement being such that the arm 8 is capable of being swungupwardly and downwardly about the axis of the hinge 12. The opposite endof the arm- 13 is fixed to a plate 14 which includes bearing portions14a pivoted on a pin 15 carried by the projecting portion 16 of abracket plate 16a that is suitably fixed to the vehicle frame 2. Thepivotal connection of the arm 13 to the bracket 16 is such as to permitthe brush 11 to be swung laterally toward and away from the vehicleframe along a generally horizontal path.

Operating means is provided for swinging each brush assembly 7 laterallyof the vehicle frame and comprises a double acting hydraulic ram 1'7having a cylinder 18 that is pivoted by a ball and socket pivot 19 tothe lower surface of the frame 2. Reciprocable in the cylinder 18 is apiston to which is connected a piston rod 20 that is pivoted as at 21 tothe arm 13. The hydraulic ram is capable of swinging the brush assembly7 from a retracted position, indicated in FIGURE 3, to any one of anumher of laterally projected positions, and return. The extremelaterally projected position of the brush assembly 7 is determined byand braced by the stop plate 16 that is supported by the bracket 22rearwardly of the broom in the path of movement of the plate 14.

As a safeguard against inadvertent swinging movement of the brushassembly during periods of inactivity or failure of the hydrauliccontrol system yet to be described, a tension spring 23 may be securedat one of its ends to an eye-bolt 24 mounted on a vertical part 13a ofthe arm 13 and at its other end to an eye-bolt 25 that is mounted on theframe 2. The spring 23 constantly exerts a force on the brush assemblytending to swing it toward and hold it in its retracted position.

The apparatus includes operating means 26 for raising and lowering thebrush assembly 7 about the axis of the hinge 12. The operating means 26comprises an upstanding lever 27 which is fixed at its lower end to thearm 8 adjacent but forwardly of the hinge 12. Fixed to the arm 27 is aring 28 to which one end of a flexible chain 29 is secured. The otherend of the chain is secured to the piston rod 3th of a double-acting,hydraulic ram 31 that is similar to the ram 17. The ram 31 is pivoted asat 32 on an arm 33 which is fixed to a block 34 that may be welded orotherwise suitably secured to the fender 35 or other convenient place onthe vehicle body 4.

Upon actuation of the hydraulic ram 31 in such manner as to extend thepiston rod 30, gravity will cause the lever 27 and the arm 8 to rockcounterclockwise in a vertical plane, as viewed in FIGURE 1, and swingthe brush 11 downwardly into engagement with the street surface. Thechain connection between the ram 31 and the lever 27 permits rocking ofthe brush 11 upwardly upon its encountering an obstruction. After theobstruction has been cleared, the weight of the brush assembly willreturn the latter to its operative position. In order to avoid theimposition of undue load on the ram 31, a tension spring 36 is connectedat one end to the arm 27 and at its other end to an adjusting screw 37that extends through a nut 38 which is pivoted to the arm 33. A handwheel 39 may be fixed to the screw 37 to facilitate adjusting the springtension.

FIGURE schematically illustrates a hydraulic system by means of whichthe various hydraulically operated parts are controlled. FIGURE 5discloses hydraulic apparatus for operating one gutter broom assemblyonly, but it will be understood that the hydraulic apparatus may beduplicated for operating the other gutter broom.

The hydraulic control apparatus includes a fluid reservoir 40 from whichhydraulic fluid may be withdrawn by a pump 41 that may be driven fromthe sweeper engine in any suitable manner such as by a drive belt 42,for example. Suitable tubing extends from the pump 41 to a conventional,manually operable, multiple port control valve 43 located in the vehicledrivers compartment and which is operable to direct fluid to thehydraulic motor so as continuously to rotate the brush II. The con trolvalve 43 also may be operable to direct fluid to the operating ram 17 soas selectively to extend or retract its piston rod 20. Valve 43 can beoperated to start and stop rotation of brush lll independently ofoperation of ram 17 which can be operated regardless of whether brush 11is rotating. As is conventional in valves of this type, the valve 43 maybe manipulated to effect holding of the piston rod in any one of anumber of positions.

Fluid from the pump 41 also is delivered by suitable tubing to a second,conventional, manually operated valve 44 which is operable to directfluid to the ram 31 so as selectively to extend, retract, or hold thechain 29.

4. The valve 44 also is mounted in the vehicle cab. Suitable conduitsextend from the motor 10 and the valves 43 and 44 to the reservoir 40 soas to permit circulation of the fluid. If desired a separate valve canbe employed to operate ram 17 in the manner of valve 44. In such asystem all the valves can be simple lever operated on-off valves.

When the sweeper is being driven to or from a sweeping site, the broomassemblies 7 are maintained in an elevated and retracted position (at ata in FIGURE 2) with the brooms l1 stationary. The vehicle thus iscapable of driving at regular highway speeds. When the sweeper reachesthe sweeping site, either or both of the brush assemblies can be swunginto sweeping position. If the sweeper is to sweep debris from a streetgutter, for example, the broom assembly adjacent the curb can be loweredand swung laterally toward the curb (as at b in FIGURE 2) a distancesufficient to sweep adjacent the curb, but maintain the vehicle tires asafe distance therefrom. The other brush assembly can be maintainedinactive or, alternatively, can be simply lowered (as at c in FIGURE 2)to sweep debris into the path of the rear broom. In either event, theextent to which the brush assemblies are extended laterally can beregulated by the vehicle driver from the cab so as to minimize traificobstruction.

If it is desired to sweep debris from above the curb into a gutter, thebrush adjacent the curb can be maintained in its elevated position andextended laterally so as to ride upon the upper surface of the curb andadjacent area. The other brush assembly may be activated or remaininactive, as desired.

The brush assemblies 7 need not be extended laterally of the vehicle inorder to operate. On narrow streets and in tunnels the brush assembliesmay remain in their retracted positions and be lowered independently ofone another into engagement with the street surface, thereby avoidingundue traffic obstruction.

The disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently preferred formof the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather thandefinitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A street sweeper comprising a frame; first brush supporting means atone side of said frame; second brush supporting means at the other sideof said frame; means mounting each of said supporting means forindependent movements of the latter toward and away from one another;and independent operating means connected to each of said supportingmeans for moving the latter independently of one another.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1 including second means mountingeach of said supporting means for substantially vertical movements.

3. The construction set forth in claim 2 including second independentoperating means connected to each of said supporting means for movingthe latter vertically independently of one another.

4. A street sweeper comprising a frame; a first supporting arm; a secondsupporting arm pivotally connected to one end of said first arm andmounting the latter forswinging movements about a substantiallyhorizontal axis; means at the other end of said first arm for mounting abrush thereon; hinge means comprising a laterally ex-- tending platefixed to said frame and a second plate swingably mounting said secondarm on said frame at one side of the latter for swinging movements ofboth arms along a generally horizontal, arcuate path; extensible andretractable operating means connected to said second arm and operable toswing both arms along said path; and second operating means connected tosaid first arm and operable to swing the latter about its pivotalconnection to said second arm.

5. A street sweeper comprising a frame; brush supporting means at leastat one side of said frame; first means,

mounting said supporting means on said frame for movements laterally ofsaid frame from an in position to an out position; second means mountingsaid supporting means for vertical movements relative to said frame; andfirst and second independent operating means connected respectively tosaid first and second mounting means for moving the latter independentlyof one another, said first operating means comprising means for selectively moving said first mounting means to various positions betweensaid in and out positions and holding them in said positions.

6. A street sweeper comprising a frame; rotatable brush supporting meansat least at one side of said frame; driving means for rotating a brushsupported on said supporting means; means mounting said supporting meansfor independent movements thereof both laterally, from an in to an outposition, and vertically of said frame; and first and second operatingmeans connected to said supporting means for respectively moving thelatter both vertically and laterally of said frame, one of saidoperating means also being connected to said driving means for operatingthe latter, and at least said second operating means comprising meansfor selectively moving said brush supporting means to various positionsbetween said in and out positions and holding them in said positions.

7. A street sweeper comprising a frame; brush supporting means at leastat one side of said frame; first means mounting said supporting meansfor movements vertically of said frame; second means independent of saidfirst mounting means and mounting said supporting means for movementlaterally of said frames to and from in and out positions; firstflexible operating means; second operating means; and means respectivelyconnecting said first and second operating means to said supportingmeans, said first and second operating means being operable selectivelyto effect independent vertical and lateralmovements of said supportingmeans, and at least said second operating means comprising means forselectively moving said brush supporting means to various positionsbetween said in and out positions and holding them in said positions.

8. The combination defined in claim 5 in which said second operatingmeans comprises a fluid pressure operated ram.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,687,728 10/1928Liddell 15-87 2,548,676 4/1951 Milz et al 15-82 2,708,280 5/1955 Antoset a1. 1583 2,833,116 5/1958 Rush 1583 X 2,917,761 12/1959 Burgdorfi15-84 2,991,492 7/1961 Dear et al 15-87 2,996,742 8/1961 Aimers 15-873,006,021 10/1961 Patch 1587 X 3,102,293 9/1963 Keogh et al. 15-873,105,991 10/1963 Oberg 1587 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,271,628 8/1961 France.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

1. A STREET SWEEPER COMPRISING A FRAME; FIRST BRUSH SUPPORTING MEANS AT ONE SIDE OF SAID FRAME; SECOND BRUSH SUPPORTING MEANS AT THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID FRAME; MEANS MOUNTING EACH OF SAID SUPPORTING MEANS FOR INDEPENDENT MOVEMENTS OF THE LATTER TOWARD AND AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER; AND INDEPENDENT OPERATING MEANS CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID SUPPORTING MEANS FOR MOVING THE LATTER INDEPENDENTLY TO ONE ANOTHER. 